Chapter 9

Mishima raised an eyebrow at Iwai. The man's hands were shaking as he lit a cigarette. He said nothing to the other man, he was sure he understood what the look meant just fine.

Iwai let out a heavy sigh, the tension in the air dissipating slightly. "You're right. I'm sorry. It's just... this whole thing has got me on edge. I feel like we're walking into a trap. Boy, I know you think you have a handle on things and that you know who they are but these could be killers. I care about you more than the fate of some politician or principle."

Mishima nodded, his mind still reeling from Iwai's sudden advance. "I know. You don't have to do this with me."

Iwai tossed his cigarette onto the ground, stamping it out. "And let my boyfriend face this down alone? What kind of man would that make me?"

It warmed Mishima's cheeks to hear Iwai call him his boyfriend. Boy was nice too, but boyfriend spoke more about their relationship. Mishima just enjoyed the moment, gazing at Iwai as if he might forget him.

"What, boy?"

Mishima's face warmed. "N-nothing. I'm just enjoying the moment. None of us can predict what will happen next, can we?"

Iwai continued to prod the cigarette with the toe of his shoe. "No, we can't. I certainly could not have predicted where I would be now on that first day you walked into my store. What was it you were carrying again?"

"A yaoi manga."

Iwai's face split with a superior grin. "A what?"

"It's a sort of comic aimed at boy's love. I like to read all sorts of manga."

That got Mishima a pat on the head. Iwai looked like he was going to say something, but both of them heard the sounds of another person drawing closer. They were footsteps. Both of the men stiffened.

"We can do this, I trust you, Iwai."

Iwai nodded, patting his coat pocket. He'd packed a little something for security, in case this went pear shaped. His expression was serious. "Agreed. But we have to be careful. The Phantom Thieves are dangerous, and we don't know what they're capable of."

Mishima took a deep breath, steeling himself for the task ahead. "I know. But we can't let that stop us. We have to do what's right, no matter what."

Iwai nodded, a small smile on his lips. "That's my boy. Let's get to work."

Mishima stepped out of the shadows to greet his classmate. It was the one that everyone said was trouble. He'd been brought up in charges, or something. But, in the time that Mishima had known him, he'd never seen him as anything but cool and level headed, even when Kamoshida was in his face and yelling.

Mishima swallowed hard. His mouth suddenly felt like it'd been filled with sand. "Hey."

The man that Mishima knew as Joker waved back. That was the thing about him: he hardly ever talked.

Now or never, he thought. "Listen, I want to thank you for everything you did, not just for Kamoshida, but for helping everyone else. You see, I run the site where we post about people in need of a change of heart. And…" he trailed off, rubbing the back of his head. "I know that you helped me too. I think I was headed down a dark path of my own. I felt something change inside of me. I suspect that was you."

Iwai watched all of this from a distance. His hand rested on the gun in his pocket. This one was real, unlike MOST of the guns he sold in his store. He could hear every word being spoken. Odd, he thought, the other guy hardly talked, mostly just gesturing to get his point across.

Mishima continued. "You see, I know you are part of the Phantom Thieves. And I don't care. When we needed help most no one else stepped in. Not a single adult, not my parents, not the recently deceased principle- no one. But, you did. And I want to thank you for that. I also want to let you know your secret is safe with me."

Joker nodded and made some small comments, showing he was following along.

"I also want to continue to help. Right now, I'm running the site and filtering out the requests that aren't worth your time. I will continue to do that and anything else that is needed."

From Iwai's perspective, it seemed as though he would not need the gun. He'd seen enough of his fellow man when he'd been running in gangs. This kid, whoever the hell he was, would not be trouble. Seems Mishima was right about him. Still, when it came to someone you loved, you never took chances.

Joker continued to show acknowledgement. "And, that's all I really wanted to say. I don't ask for anything more, and never will. All I really wanted to say was that if push comes to shove, you can count on me." And with that, Mishima held out his hand to his classmate. When they shook, Mishima thought he heard the unmistakable sounds of chains rattling, only to be broken. Strange, must be from one of the nearby alleys. And with that, the two walked away, in separate directions.

When Mishima got back to Iwai, the man said nothing. He just tapped out a cigarette and lit it, inhaling deeply with his eyes closed.

"You know, those things are bad for your health."

Iwai let out a low grunt and smiled, blowing smoke from his nostrils. "And what the hell are you, an afterschool special?"

Mishima said nothing, but beamed at the other man, letting him enjoy his smoke.

"One of these days," Began Iwai, tossing the cigarette butt in the gutter, "I'll quit. Shit catches up with you the older you get. Neither of us is getting any younger, you know."

"So? Time runs in one direction. I'm happy with the way things are now."

"Are you now, boy?"

"Yep." Said Mishima.

The two embraced. Mishima felt two barrels pressed up against him. One was for protection, the other was for… pleasure. He could have spoiled the moment with a silly comment: Instead, he just savored the moment. When the two broke apart, Iwai kissed him on his forehead.

"Come on, boy, let's get you a treat. Maybe a nice ice cream cone."

Again, Mishima resisted making a comment that would have derailed the moment. Iwai was being playful, likely blowing off stress from what could have been.

"Can we get it to go?" asked Mishima.

"Why?"

"Because I know it makes you a little uncomfortable to be around other people with me. I sometimes act in a way that attracts too much attention."

Iwai stopped walking. "Mishima, It's just that sometimes society sees an older and younger man together and passes judgment on them. I own a small business and cannot afford to alienate customers. But know this, my love for you is no less because of it. If you want to get ice cream to go, then let's stop at a convenience store and pick up some things. I think I even have an ice cream scooper somewhere in my apartment. We can make each other ice cream cones, watch some TV, and just enjoy being with each other. How does that sound?

Mishima smiled up at the other man. "It sounds like the perfect evening to me."

And, to the shock of Mishima, Iwai planted a kiss on his forehead. True, it was not a busy street, but the fact that he'd done so publicly, showed Mishima that Iwai's feelings for him were true.

"Now, let's get to the store and get home soon. I want more than just ice cream tonight."

And the two continued on into the evening together, hand in hand.

Thou art I; I am thou. Thou hast acquired a new vow. It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh thy chains of captivity

The Moon, with its gentle glow as guidance, helped in slipping the noose from around the Hanged Man. An unlikely meeting aided in freeing destiny from its constraints.

And the chains fell away from them both.

END